Ann Arbor was in full bloom Wednesday afternoon — the last day of March — as residents came out of the woodwork to enjoy one of the first truly warm, sunny weeks of spring that have fallen over the region.

Around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the weather was 71 degrees and sunny, University of Michigan weather observer Dennis Kahlbaum said.

It's a fitting end to a month that Kahlbaum says has been quite an anomaly. This March was one of only five in the past 130 years in which there has only been a trace of snow, he said.

This March was one of the five least snowy of the past 130 years, he said.

It's especially strange when one considers February, which turned out to be a record month for snowfall in Ann Arbor, with 33.1 inches of snow, he said. A typical March receives 8.3 inches of snow, he said.

“We are still in the snowfall season, as April usually receives 2.4 inches of snow,” Kahlbaum warned.

Nobody seem too worried about that Wednesday.

Sidewalk cafes were serving a happy lunch crowd and preparing for what promised to be throngs of customers eager for a place to eat outside. Joggers, rollerbladers and skateboarders, too, took to the streets in full force.

Those who have to work, attend class or attend other indoor obligations the rest of this week, might want to start honing those excuses for staying home because the weather is only expected to get better.

On Thursday, the forecast calls for sunny to partly cloudy skies with a high temperature around 76 degrees. More of the same is called for on Friday with sun and some clouds and a high temperature of 79 degrees, Kahlbaum said.

So what are the best excuses to getting out of work and getting out to enjoy the sun? According to Monster.com, there is an art to the good excuse - and to the bad excuse. For example, saying a personal emergency came up is simply too vague and sounds like a made up excuse, according to a list of top excuses. Here are some top examples:

1. "I've earned it" — Put in some serious extra house and negotiate a day off in advance to reap the benefits.

2. "I'm playing golf … with a client" — Ok, so many jobs don't exactly lend themselves to using golf as your excuse, but think of ways you can meet and court current and prospective clients. But don't lie about this one. You have to follow through, according to Monster's experts.

3. "I'm working from home" —If you're company allows it, you can still get some work done but also get away with a shortened day and cut out commuting time.

How about you? What are the best ways you enjoy the weather once it gets nice out again in Ann Arbor?

Tina Reed is a reporter for Ann Arbor.com. Contact her at tinareed@annarbor.com.